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(ModeL) v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. N. BRUCE & J. M. BROWN.

Seeding Machine. 7 No. 242,505. Patented June 7,1881.

WITNESSES 3 Sh sets-Sheet 2 (ModeL) I R. N BRUCE & J. M. BROWN.

Seeding Machine.

Patented June 7,188].

(ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. R. N. BRUCE & J. M. BROWN.

Seeding Machine. No. 242,505. Patented June 7,1881.

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ROBERT N. BRUCE AND JAMES M. BROYVN, OF SPERRYVILLE, VIRGINIA.

SEEDlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,505, dated June '7, 1881.

Application filed April 4, 1881. (Model) To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ROBERT N. BRUCE and JAMES M. BROWN, both of Sperryville, in the county of Rappahannock and State of Virginia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Seeding-Machines; and we do hereby dcclarethal the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a top-plan view. Fig. 2 s a rear view. Fig. 3 is a side view. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like letters of reference.

This invention relates to a combined seedsower and fertilizer-distributer; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction ofthe same, which will be hereinat'terfully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. 7

In the drawings hereto annexed, A represents the frame of the machine, which is mounted upon an axle, B, one of the wheels of which, 0, is fixed, in order to cause the axle to revolve in its bearings.

.D is the hopper, which is provided with a partition, E, arranged close to its front side, so as to form a passage, F, at the upper end of which is formed a small secondary hopper or seed-box, G, the bottom of which, H, is provided with a series of perforations, I, opening into thepassage F. J is the seed-slide, which is provided with perforations K, and which reciprocates upon the bottom H, it being provided with an arm, L, which extends through a slot, M, in the side of the hopper, and to which operating mechanism (to be hereinafter described) is attached.

N is a transverse shaft, journaled in the sides of the hopper D, and carrying a longitudinallygrooved or fluted cylinder, 0, fitting closely against the lower edges of the body of said hopper. Any desired number of the grooves 1 in cylinder 0 maybe closed by means of strips Q, fitted nicely therein, and secured by wood-screws or in any other suitable manner. The shaft N is provided with a gear-wheel, 1t,fixed at one of its ends and engaging a similar wheel, S, secured upon the axle B, which thus serves to rotate shaft N when the machine is operated.

S is a sliding agitator, provided with wings or stirrers T, and fitted transversely just above the fluted roller 0 in hopper D, through the sides of which the ends of said rod project, as shown. The inner side of the gear-wheel It and the inner side of a disk, U, fixed at the other end of shaft N, are provided on diametrically opposite sides with beveled projections V, which, as the shaft N rotates, strike the projecting ends of the rod S thus forcing the latter alternately in opposite directions and serving to stir the contents of hopper D.

The lower edge of the rear side of hopper D is constructed of a series of doors, W, secured by spring-hinges X, so as to be capable of opening in an outward direction. Any lumps or hard pieces which may be found inthe fertilizing material contained in hopper D, and which, when fed by the fluted cylinder 0, might tend to obstruct the working of the machine, will, by this arrangement, simply force one of the doors W open sufliciently to escape.

Y is a cleaner or scraper secured to the front side of the'hopper D by means of suitablyconstructed springs Z. The function of this scraper is to bear against the face of cylinder 0 and remove from the grooves of the latter any obstructions which, by reason of moisture or otherwise, might clog or accumulate therein.

A is a trough or sitter, suspended from the under side of the hopper by means of hooked rods 13, and connected, by arms 0, with cranks D, formed upon the shaft E, which is journaled in the downward-projecting sides of the hopper, as shown. Shaft E is provided at one end with a gear-wheel, F, engaging the gearwheel S upon axle B, thus causing the sifter A to be shaken or reciprocated by the revolu tion of the axle.

Upon the outer side or face of gear-wheel F is pivoted a connecting-rod or pitman, G, the upper end of which is hooked or adjusted in one of a series of perforations, H, in the lower or horizontal arm of a bell-crank lever, I, pivoted in a bracket, J, extending laterally from the side of hopper D. The upper or vertical arm of the said bell-crank lever is adjusted in a perforation, K, in the projecting arm L of the seed-slide, which is thus reciprocated by means of the said bell-crank lever, which latter is operated by the revolving shaft E.

The sides L M of hopper D project downwardly, as shown, and are provided or formed with shoes or brackets, by means of which it is supported upon the frame, the sides of the latter being provided with pins L M of which those under side L are straight or vertical, while those under side M slant or incline in a forward direction.

Corresponding openings, N, are provided in the sides L M.

A crank-lever, O, pivoted to the side of the frame has its short arm pivoted to the side M, anditslon g arm extending forward and adjust able in one of several notches, P, in an upright, Q, secured to the side of the frame. By this arrangement, when the front end of lever O is lowered the side M is raised and slides forward upon the inclined pins M thus throwing the gear-wheels R F, which are arranged on this side, out of gear with the wheel S upon the axle, thus stopping the operation of the machine.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood.

The seed fed by the reciprocating seed-slide drops through the passage F down upon the cyllinder O, which receives it in one ofits grooves. This in passing under hopper D is filled with the fertilizing substance con tained in the latter, and the whole is discharged into the sifter A, by which it is thoroughly scattered. This sifter, however, may be omitted when desired.

The quantity of seed sown may be regulated by the number and size of the openingsin bottom H and in the seed-slide, and these should be so disposed that when the machine is at rest and out of gear, and the cranks of shaft E drop down to theirlowest position, the seed-openin gs in bottom H shall be closed by the seed-slide, thus preventing the waste of seed.

The quantity of fertilizing material to be dropped may be determined by covering one or more of the grooves in cylinder 0 with the strips Q.

This machine will work when backed as well as when drawn forward,and may thus be backed up in corners, 850., not otherwise accessible.

The construction is simple, cheap, and durable.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a seeding and fertilizer-dropping machine, the eombination ofthe seed-barJ, located in the seed-hopper G, with its discharge-spout forming a subdivision of the main hopper D, crank-arm H, working in the eye or support J, rod G, pinion F, gearing with a pinion, S, upon the driving-shaft, and having a crankshaft, E D, and suspended screen or sifter A, connected by rod 0 to the aforesaid crankshaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Id at seeding and iertilizer-dropping machine, the combination of the seed-barJ, seedhopper G, main-hopper I), crank-arm H, working in the eye or support J, rod G, pinion F, gearing with a pinion, S, upon the drivingwheel shaft and having a crank-shaft, E I), connected by a rod, (2, to the suspended sifter A, and stirrer S T, vibrated alternately by the cams V V on opposite sides of the frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the frame A, having axle B, provided with gear-wheel S, cranklever 0, vertical studs L and inclined studs M of the hopper D, having shafts N E, carrying gear-wheels R F, and having downwardprojeetiu g sides L M, provided, respectively,

with straight and inclined openings adjusted,

upon the pins or studs I M the short arm of lever 0 being pivoted to the side M of the hopper, all as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereunto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT NE WHOUSE BRUCE. JAMES MARSHAL BROWN. WVitnesses:

ROBERT HILTON, WILLIAM wool). 

